Sweeping broom apparatus for use with a vehicle and having a source of compressed air

ABSTRACT

A sweeping broom apparatus comprises a main body having a debris receiving outlet and connecting means for operatively connecting the main body to a vehicle. A broom shroud has an open bottom defined by a bottom edge. An airflow obstructing skirt is disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of the broom shroud and the surface being cleaned. There is a forwardly facing debris outlet in the broom shroud for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. A main sweeping broom is mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned generally along the longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet. There is a source of compressed air having an outlet for permitting the egress of compressed air therefrom. An air blast nozzle has an outlet aimed downwardly and forwardly so as to aim a blast of air at a surface being cleaned, and has an inlet connected in fluid communication to the outlet of the source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet. In use, compressed air from the air blast nozzle is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned.

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/974,917 filed on Sep. 25, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to street sweeping vehicles, and more particularly to dustless street sweeping vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In some prior art street sweepers, especially in recirculating air type street sweepers, it is known to situate an air blast nozzle immediately behind the main sweeping broom for directing a strong blast of forwardly directed air onto the surface being cleaned, at the point of contact of the main sweeping broom. The air blast nozzle is approximately the width of the main sweeping broom, and perhaps about an inch wide. Accordingly, a strong blast of air that is about the width of the path being swept, is produced. This strong blast of air helps to clean fine particulate debris from the surface being cleaned. Typically, the air blast nozzle draws air from the same air compressor that feeds the entire recirculating air system in the street sweeper. However, the inclusion of an air blast nozzle leads to a significant drop in air flow within the recirculating air system. Accordingly, in order for the recirculating air system to operate properly, a more powerful air compressor must be used. This is undesirable as it is expensive and also draws more power from the engine of the street sweeper.

Further, in the event that the street sweeper comprises a separate sweeping broom apparatus that is in some manner towed or carried by a drivable vehicle, such as a tractor, the engine in the vehicle is predetermined. Accordingly, the maximum size of the air compressor is limited by the power of the engine of the vehicle.

Another significant problem is that the proper operation of the recirculating air system of the street sweeper is dependent on how well the sweeping broom apparatus is “sealed” to the surface being cleaned, or in other words how well the series of overlapping rubber flaps depending from the bottom edge of the sweeping broom apparatus, specifically from the broom shroud, remain in contact with the surface being cleaned. When the overlapping rubber flaps “break seal” with the surface being cleaned, the suctioning power of the overall recirculating air system is very significantly reduced. In this case, the amount of air emanating from the air blast nozzle is also very significantly reduced to a point where the air blast nozzle is no longer properly effective.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a street sweeper having an air blast nozzle immediately behind the main sweeping broom for directing a strong blast of forwardly directed air onto the surface being cleaned.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a street sweeper having an air blast nozzle immediately behind the main sweeping broom for directing a strong blast of forwardly directed air onto the surface being cleaned, wherein there is not a significant drop in air flow within the recirculating air system of the street sweeper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a street sweeper having an air blast nozzle immediately behind the main sweeping broom for directing a strong blast of forwardly directed air onto the surface being cleaned, wherein inclusion of the air blast nozzle does not require a more powerful air compressor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a street sweeper having an air blast nozzle immediately behind the main sweeping broom for directing a strong blast of forwardly directed air onto the surface being cleaned, wherein the air blast nozzle does not draw additional power from the engine of the street sweeper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a street sweeper having an air blast nozzle immediately behind the main sweeping broom for directing a strong blast of forwardly directed air onto the surface being cleaned, wherein the air blast nozzle remains properly effective even when the sweeping broom apparatus is no longer “sealed” to the surface being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel sweeping broom apparatus comprising a main body having a debris receiving inlet and connecting means for operatively connecting the main body to a vehicle. A broom shroud has an open bottom defined by a bottom edge. The broom shroud has a front end and a back end, and defines a longitudinal horizontal axis extending between the front end and the back end. An airflow obstructing means is disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of the broom shroud and the surface being cleaned. There is a forwardly facing debris outlet in the broom shroud for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris. A main sweeping broom is mounted within the broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned generally along the longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet. There is a source of compressed air having an outlet for permitting the egress of compressed air therefrom. An air blast nozzle has an outlet aimed downwardly and forwardly so as to aim a blast of air at a surface being cleaned, and has an inlet connected in fluid communication to the outlet of the source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet. In use, compressed air from the air blast nozzle is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the sweeping broom apparatus according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the sweeping broom apparatus according to the present invention, mounted on a tractor (partially shown); and,

FIG. 2 is a partly cut-away left side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the sweeping broom apparatus of FIG. 1, mounted on a tractor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show a preferred embodiment of the sweeping broom apparatus of the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 20. The sweeping broom apparatus 20 is for use with a vehicle, such as a tractor 22, which is only partially shown. The tractor has a three point hitch 24 for receiving the sweeping broom apparatus 20 in supported relation thereon.

The sweeping broom apparatus 20 comprises a main body 21 having a debris receiving inlet 52 for receiving debris thereinto. There is also a connecting means, as indicated by the general reference numeral 30, for operatively connecting the main body 21 in trailing relation to the vehicle 22, such that the sweeping broom apparatus 20 is received in supported relation on the pair of rearwardly extending mounting arms 23 of the three-point hitch 24. The connecting means 30 comprises a generally vertically oriented base member 30 having left and right generally vertically oriented side members 32,34 and upper and lower cross members 36,38. A pair of opposed spindles 40,42 are disposed at the bottom of the generally vertically oriented base member 30. A pair of forwardly extending lower arm members 45,47 are connected in pivoting relation at their respective back ends 45 b,47 b to the opposed spindles 40,42. The front ends 45 f,47 f of the forwardly extending lower arm members 45,47 are connectable to the tractor 22. A pair of forwardly extending upper arm members 44,46 are connected in pivoting relation at their respective back ends 44 b,46 b to a pair of co-operating flanges 46,48 that extend forwardly from the upper cross member 36. The front ends 44 f,46 f of the forwardly extending upper arm members 44,46 are connectable to the tractor 22.

The sweeping broom apparatus 20 comprises a debris receiving hopper 50 disposed at the front of the sweeping broom apparatus 20. In the first preferred embodiment, the rearwardly facing debris receiving inlet 52 is in the debris receiving hopper 50.

A broom shroud 60 is disposed rearwardly of the debris receiving hopper 50, and is connected to the debris receiving hopper 50 by means of left and right connecting arms 54,56. In this manner, the broom shroud 60 is vertically movable with respect to the hopper 50. Accordingly, a small gap 26 exists between the debris receiving hopper 50 and the broom shroud 60. The broom shroud 60 has a front end 62, a back end 64, an open bottom 66 defined by a bottom edge 68, and a forwardly facing debris outlet 69 for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris.

An airflow obstructing means 70 is disposed around the bottom edge of the broom shroud 60 for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of the broom shroud 60 and a surface being cleaned 29. The airflow obstructing means 70 comprises a series of overlapping rubber flaps 70 depending from the bottom edge 68 of the broom shroud 60.

A main sweeping broom 72 is operatively mounted within the broom shroud 60 for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned 29, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through the forwardly facing debris outlet 69 directly to the rearwardly facing debris receiving inlet 52 of the debris receiving hopper 50.

A source of compressed air 80 has an outlet 82 for permitting the egress of compressed air therefrom. The source of compressed air 80 preferably comprises a compressed air tank 80. The compressed air tank 80 is mounted in the broom shroud 60, as can be readily seen in the figures, or alternatively on the broom shroud 60. It is also contemplated that the compressed air tank 80 could be mounted on the tractor 22, although this would be inconvenient as a separate compressed air line would have to be run from the tractor 22 to the broom shroud 60.

An air blast nozzle 90 has an outlet 92 aimed downwardly and forwardly so as to aim a blast of air at a surface being cleaned 29, and also has an inlet 94 connected in fluid communication via a flexible hose 96 to the outlet 82 of the source of compressed air 80 for receiving compressed air therefrom. The inlet 94 of the air blast nozzle 90 is of course in fluid communication with the outlet 92 of the air blast nozzle 90 to permit the ready flow of compressed air from the inlet 94 to the outlet 92.

In use, compressed air emanating from the outlet 92 of the air blast nozzle 90 is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned 29, preferably at the point of contact of the main sweeping broom 72 with the surface being cleaned 29.

As can be readily understood, in use, compressed air from the air blast nozzle 90 is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned 29 without affecting the suctioning airflow of the recirculating air system of the vehicle.

As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a dustless sweeping broom apparatus that precludes the egress of dust and other fine particulate material from the street sweeping vehicle, even when the broom and broom shroud are tracking undulations in the surface being cleaned, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.

Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the sweeping broom apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims. 

1. A sweeping broom apparatus comprising: a main body having a debris receiving inlet; connecting means for operatively connecting said main body to a vehicle; a broom shroud having a front end, a back end, an open bottom defined by a bottom edge, and a forwardly facing debris outlet for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris; airflow obstructing means disposed around the bottom edge of said broom shroud for substantially obstructing the egress of air from between the bottom edge of said broom shroud and the surface being cleaned; a forwardly facing debris outlet in said broom shroud for permitting the directed egress of debris therefrom as a forwardly propelled stream of debris; a main sweeping broom mounted within said broom shroud for propelling debris forwardly from a surface being cleaned generally along said longitudinal horizontal axis, thereby creating a stream of debris propelled forwardly through said forwardly facing debris outlet; a source of compressed air having an outlet for permitting the egress of compressed air therefrom; and, an air blast nozzle having an outlet aimed downwardly and forwardly so as to aim a blast of air at a surface being cleaned, and having an inlet connected in fluid communication to said outlet of said source of compressed air for receiving compressed air therefrom, with said inlet being in fluid communication with said outlet; wherein, in use, compressed air from said air blast nozzle is forcibly blasted against a surface being cleaned.
 2. The sweeping broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of compressed air comprises a compressed air tank.
 3. The sweeping broom apparatus of claim 2, wherein said compressed air tank is mounted in said broom shroud. 